The Now

Posted on October 19, 2012 by Emuna Daily

“There is no moment more vital than the one right now.  There is no space more crucial than the one in which you stand.  For this is the moment and this is the place from which the Moshiach may come.” ~ R’ Tzvi Freeman

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A Few Clouds

Posted on October 18, 2012 by Emuna Daily

“Hashem wants us to be our best, so He sends a cloud here and there to block the sunlight and clear skies; sunsets would be boring without a few clouds.” ~ R’ Lazer Brody

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The Greatest Sin

Posted on October 17, 2012 by Emuna Daily

“The holy master Rebbe Nachman says… The greatest sin in the world is to be sad.  The greatest sin in the world is not to be filled with joy.” R’ Shlomo Carlebach zt”l

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Mashiach

Posted on October 16, 2012 by Emuna Daily

“We daven each day that Hashem should bring Mashiach.  Do you think Hashem doesn’t want to bring Mashiach?  Of course He wants to bring Mashiach! But He wants us to bring Mashiach!  He wants us to truly deserve and justify the arrival of Mashiach!” ~ The Kotzker Rebbe

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Powerful Lesson on Loshon Hara

Posted on October 15, 2012 by Emuna Daily

Our Sages taught that Lashon Hara (gossip) harms 1.) The gossiper, 2.) The listener and 3.) The one about whom the gossip is spoken (see Arachin 15b).

Now it is easy to understand why the gossiper and listener suffer, since they participated in the sin.  But why should the subject of the gossip suffer?  After all, he was not even present at the time!

The answer lies in the fact  that speech is a revelation of something that was previously hidden (in thought).  Therefore, by speaking badly about another person it actually causes that person’s bad traits to be more pronounced in the world, which could lead him to be the subject of a heavenly decree of punishment.  Thus, it is bad speech that can harm another (and not thoughts, that remain hidden), which teaches us how careful a person should be with the words he utters about another.  ~ The Lubvaticher Rebbe based on Likutei Sichos, vol 15, p 31ff

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It was Good

Posted on October 12, 2012 by Emuna Daily

Here is a short vort on the parsha to repeat at the shabbos table:

“Why doesn’t the Torah state ‘Ki Tov – It was good’ – after the creation of man, as it does after all the other things created during the six days?  Because every other creature was created complete, with its nature and instincts ready to be applied to the world.  Man, however, is given free will and the responsibility for his own development and improvement.  Thus, it doesn’t state, ‘and it was good,’ because we must wait and see how man behaves before passing judgment.” ~ The Kli Yakar (Torah Tavlin)

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G-d is Only Good

Posted on October 11, 2012 by Emuna Daily

“Everything that occurs comes from G-d, and G-d is only good. But if you and your world are not prepared to receive such good, it may manifest itself as apparent bad. Struggle hard to see the good, think positively — and then the good will become revealed.” ~ R’ Tzvi Freeman

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…and man became a speaking spirit

Posted on October 10, 2012 by Emuna Daily

The Torah states (in this week’s parsha) “And Hashem formed man from the dust of the ground, and He blew into his nostrils the soul of life, and man became a living being” (Bereishis 2:7).  Targum Onkles translates the verse’s last phrase as “and man became a speaking spirit.”  It is the power of speech which defines man’s essence and distinguishes him from other creatures.

Thus does Scripture state “One who guards his mouth and tongue, guards his soul from tribulations” (Mishlei 21:23).  Shmiras haloshon is singled out because speech is man’s essential quality.  Impairment of this power deprives the soul of its essential quality in  the next world and is the source of its ultimate tribulation.  ~ The Chofetz Chaim

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Times

Posted on October 5, 2012 by Emuna Daily

“There is an answer for every time and for every situation.  At one time, the answer may be to turn to Torah study, at another to say a prayer or to do a good deed.  At one time it may be necessary to cry and beg and weep before G-d.  At another time to be joyous and glad.  There are times for speaking, other times for silence.  There is also a time when what we need is to turn aside from our service.  For at times, ‘To neglect Torah is to keep it.’ (Talmud Menachot 99a).  There are times when a person has to eat or sleep in order to preserve his body.  At other times he has to converse with other people in order to sharpen his wits, and so on.

Everyone must endure innumerable different ‘times’.” ~ R’ Nachman of Breslov zt”l

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Remote Control

Posted on October 4, 2012 by Emuna Daily

To change the past, there is no need to travel in a time machine. You can change the past by remote control.

Here’s how it works: From beyond the continuum of time, G‑d looks at your stance in this moment now. From that point, He creates all things—of now, of the future and of the past.

With each new moment of now, all of past, as well, is regenerated as though it never was. Change the present now, and you will have changed the past along with it. ~ R’ Tzvi Freeman

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